Friday, December 10, 2010

I'm Dreaming of a Stressless Yule

You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life.

-- James G. Bilkey


Can you believe it? The two cats can actually eat next to each other without hissing or spitting. This doesn't mean that Widdershins is happy that Shadow is her brother. There still lots of tension between them and all of it is coming from her.


That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Nietzsche


I wonder if that is the whole point of all this rushing around and trying to make it through the season with our minds intact. Just maybe when our day of light rolls around and all the gifts are wrapped...the meal is set before us and the house is as good as it will get...we can stop and say "we survived another year."


And hopefully all that rushing around and creating enough stress to make one question their sanity will allow us a shining moment with family and friends that makes everything worthwhile.


But right now it is hard to see that the light that is soon to be reborn whether in the sky, through burning oil or lying in a manger; is deep within us. We all contain a miracle just waiting to to birthed into existence. But right now there are presents to be bought and decorations that won't hang themselves. And let us not forget those pesky cards that must be adressed and written.


This year I have tried to give up my recent holiday tradition of taking on too much, spending way too much money and stressing myself beyond what my poor body and mind can handle.


This year I did my shopping early, planned meals way ahead of time, and I hope to decorate this weekend. At least my Samhain pillow will get swapped for an angel one...Hey it's the effort right?


We won't attempt a tree...not even a small one. There just isn't space and Shadow would total it on the days we aren't here. But if you have one could you please do something for me? One of my silly little favorite things to do during the holidays is to turn the lights off and watch the patterns that the blinking lights make on the ceiling. I really miss that.


I will miss going to my parents and all the wonderful things that took for granted; cookies, putting up the tree, Mom's eggnog...anything cooked by Mom...Dad's roasts...I even miss going to Mass with Dad.


It is my turn now to make the memories that my son will hopefully fondly one day remember.


*sigh*


I wish you all a wonderful weekend,

Ruinwen

:)



4 comments:

Stitch-n-Snitch said...

LOL about your pillow switch! :P

Rue said...

I'd like to think that Christmas wasn't nearly the madhouse back in Mom and Dad's time as it is today...but then I remember the piles of gifts under the tree, and Mom's pride in her fantastic bows, and all the food they cooked, the many many cards that hung on our closet door (meaning a card had to go out for each one)...

The shopping might not have been as crazy, but I guess everything else was. And here we thought all that stuff just -happened-, somehow! *sigh*

Looking forward to spending Yule with you! LOOOOOOVE

Nana Sadie said...

They DO get to the point where they won't remember what it was like without the other, I promise. It's finally happening in my house!
:)
Now...about the tree? JOIN THE CLUB! No tree in my house either, especially not the ceramic one I love best.
Tonk would kill anything even if I'm in the room!
We do come to the point when we are the eldest generation - we discussed that last night at our after-yoga pizza dinner! So many of us are there now. But it's amazingly hard to see myself as an Elder!
Much love to you, breathe and keep on with the "do less" mentality - it's the wise thing.
((((hugs))))

Geraldine said...

Mr. Cheddar sends his best headbonks to your gang. And this greeting:

http://veggiesyarnsandtails.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/mr-cheddar-wishes-you-a-cool-yule/

Hope all is well. G